Category Archives: News

Apple reports 2010 Q1 earnings: $3.38b profit, Macs up 33%, iPods down 8%, iPhone sales double

Apple recently announced their first quarter financial results and per usual, they made quite a hefty profit.  $3.38 billion to be exact (or $3.67 profit per share).  They brought in revenues of $15.68 billion.  Note that these numbers are up from last quarter’s profit of $2.26 billion on $11.88 billion in revenue.  More to the point, this is the best quarter they have ever had.  Let’s break it down by product: Apple sold 3.36 million Macs (representing a 33 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter), 8.7 million iPhones (representing 100 percent unit growth), and 21 million iPods (representing an eight percent unit decline).  No surprise there; iPod sales have been declining for some time now.  Note that this decline factors general iPod sales; iPod touch sales were up 55 percent.

According to the earnings PR, “The new products we are planning to release this year are very strong, starting this week with a major new product that we’re really excited about.”  *Cough–Apple Tablet–cough.*  Sorry, I was just clearing my throat.  Might as well throw in a possibility of seeing the next iLife, iPhone OS 4.0, and maybe even witness AT&T’s iPhone exclusitivity fall by the wayside to Verizon.  Remember to check back here tomorrow night for all Apple announcements.

Every quarter seems to surpass the last financially for Apple.  With Steve Jobs at the helm, what else more could you expect?  The man is an inspiration, and his company is his vision.  “Apple at the core, its core value, is that we believe that people with passion can change the world for the better.”  Watch as Steve Jobs (in shorts!) motivates the industry in a video captured about ten years ago when he returned to Apple.

[Via Apple; Engadget; Gizmodo]

Avatar surpasses Titanic to become worldwide box office king

Few people in their lives strike gold twice.  James Cameron is one of those people.  After setting the box office record for highest grossing movie in 1997 with Titanic, Cameron did it again with Avatar this year.  Although final figures will not be reported until Tuesday, rough estimates have been compiled.  Having made $1,858,866,889, Avatar has officially trumped Titanic ($1,843,201,268) to become the highest grossing movie worldwide.  Avatar still trails Titanic domestically with  $554.9 million, behind Titanic‘s $600.7 million.  And don’t forget about price inflation from ’97 to present day; Avatar still needs to sell about 50 million more tickets for it to match the domestic sales of Titanic.  Internationally, though, it has bested Titanic $1.30 billion to $1.24 billion.

This can mean only one thing: 3D is here to stay.

[Via LA Times; image via LAmoviedriver]

Jack Bauer set to wield the Apple Tablet in upcoming episode

According to Rodney Charters, director of photography on 24, the show will try its best to somehow incorporate Apple’s still unannounced tablet device, pending Apple’s cooperation.  Charters tweets: “Hmmmm looks like we may get an iSlate into Jacks hands for Ep 20 getting giddy with excitement” and later updated with: “Got a bit too excited probably more likely Episode 22 but Apple provided fingers crossed.”

As exciting as this proposition sounds, it all hinges upon the actual existence of such a tablet.  We will know by tomorrow.  Oh, and it better be announced.  Because if it isn’t, you can be sure Jack will stationed outside the keynote doors waiting to interrogate Jobs (re-created for visual purposes above).

[Via Twitter page; Gizmodo]

House spin-off is still a possibility

For some time now rumors have swirled that House‘s Michael Weston (Lucas Douglas, the private detective who’s now lovey dovey with Cuddy) would star in a House spin-off series backed by Houseexecutive producers David Shore and Katie Jacobs.  Time had passed and with no word about such a spin-off I had all but lost hope.  But then this–FOX network president Kevin Reilly spoke with EW’s Ausiello and today reports that the spin-off idea is not dead.  In fact, the concept of another show helmed by Shore and Jacobs is very well alive.  Right now they have a “standing offer” to create a new FOX series for the 9PM time-slot.  Says Reilly: “It could be a direct spin-off or a completely new show.  Ideally, I would love David and Katie to have their own [two-hour block].”  When asked about the Lucas Douglas spin-off idea Reilly noted, “…they kind of stuck their toe in the water and just didn’t feel like it worked. The [character] worked [on] House, but [he] didn’t really work as [his] own thing.”  He also added, “They have really high standards.  These are not guys who commercially are going to chase something just to announce they have a spin-off and then figure out the show later on. They’re probably the most thorough producers… I’ve ever worked with.”

A House spin-off or a completely new Shore-Jacobs show?  I’d take either honestly.  They make a great team and I believe a new project, House-related or not, would strike gold yet again for FOX.  What say you?

[Via EW]

Gleeks, rejoice! (again!); NPH joins for Whedon-directed episode

The headline says it all, really.  According to EW, Dr. Horrible himself, Neil Patrick Harris, is expected to join forces with Dr.H creator Joss Whedon for an upcoming episode of FOX’s hit show Glee.  In fact this would be quite a reunion for NPH; not only will he team with Whedon but he’ll also work with Zachary Woodlee who helped choreograph the song-and-dance inspired 100th episode of How I Met Your Mother.  NPH is expected to both sing and dance in the role, no surprise here.  The only road block is CBS allowing NPH to jump over to FOX for the shoot.  EW’s Ausiello points out that HIMYM and Glee are both produced by 20th Century Fox, so there really shouldn’t be an issue.  Glee returns with all new episodes April 13 on FOX.

[Via EW]

LittleBigPlanet to be brought into a 3D universe later this year

Get your Sackboy (or Sackgirl) ready!  It’s been teased that Media Molecule’s LittleBigPlanet will be undergoing a 3D makeover just in time for the Playstation 3 firmware update that will enable 3D gameplay on all PS3s later this year.  LBP joins SuperStarDust HD and Gran Turismo 5 as one of many games that will likely make the conversion to 3D formats.  3D effects will only add to the great depth and vastness that LBP already has to offer.  In the behind-closed-doors demo of LBP in 3D it’s been reported that when Sackboy puts on 3D glass in-game the game environment itself transforms from 2D to 3D.  Rad!

[Via Eurogamer; Kotaku]

Apple invites us to see their “latest creation”

Apple will be holding a special event Wednesday, January 27 at 10AM PST at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco.  I think we all know what the big announcement will be: the oft-rumored Apple Tablet (aka iSlate aka Magic Slate aka iPad).  The latest speculation believes Steve Jobs may announce one or more of the following: the tablet, a new iPhone, iPhone OS 4.0, and the next iLife suite.  Obviously I have my money on the tablet announcement.  The recent slew of rumors surrounding the tablet (including talks of Verizon and various book and magazine publishers involvement) has me really excited about this event.  Be sure to check back here Wednesday evening for full coverage and a rundown of all pertinent announcements.

PlayStation Motion Controller delayed until fall 2010

Last we heard the tentitively titled PlayStation Motion Controller was due out this Spring.  But that was too good to be true, am I right?  Sony has gone ahead and delayed the mystical motion controller until “fall 2010” globally.  The delay affects the following countries: Japan, Asia, North America, and Europe.  Why the delay?  Kaz Hirai, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.: “We have decided to release the Motion Controller in fall 2010 when we will be able to offer an exciting and varied line-up of software titles that will deliver the new entertainment experience to PS3 users.”  They gotta pump out the games before the accessory is let out into the wild.  Makes sense.  With Microsoft’s Project Natal slated to release “Holiday 2010” the final quarter of this year looks like it’s going to be an exciting one for gamers.  Full press release after the break.

[Via Engadget]

Continue reading PlayStation Motion Controller delayed until fall 2010

Rock Band Network beta opens to Xbox 360 users, allows rockstars in training to show off their talent

Rock Band Network to enter public beta testing. Gaming, Rock Band, Music, Music games, Harmonix, MIDI 0

Harmonix wants to breathe new life into its Rock Band series by allowing gamers to upload their own music to the game for others to play.  It’s being positioned as a way for unsigned artists to show off their talent in video game form.  All artists have to do is create a MIDI file of their song, record it with quality audio levels, and submit it for a peer review.  If a song is selected for the service, the artist will be prompted to pick a price point (ranging from $1 to $3) and then the song will be posted to the network for millions to download and play.  However, there is somewhat of a catch.  Artists must pay to place their songs on the network and the pricing is pretty steep, ranging from $999 for an entire track to $500 per minute of music.  This being said, it is likely that only serious artists will be willing to take the leap into the Network.  And if you ask me, this is a good thing; we shouldn’t run into showing-singing tweens.  So far many larger bands have expressed deep interest in lending some of their tracks to the service.  They include  Jonathan Coulton, The Shins, Ministry, Evanescense, The Stills, Creed and All That Remains.  Also, SubPop has announced that Nirvana, Sleater-Kinney, Flight of the Conchords, and the Postal Service will share tracks as well.  Harmonix stipulates that they will not enable the service  “until we accrue a good base of content.”  So you think you got what it takes?  Head on over to Rock Band’s official site to join the beta and get started!

[Via Pocket-lint; Engadget]

ESPN may stream live sporting events to an Xbox 360 near you

According to the NY Times, Disney is in talks with Microsoft to bring ESPN to Xbox Live.  Sure, Live subscribers already have access to the large Netflix library to rent the latest movies and TV shows, but streaming live sporting events takes things to a whole new level.  ESPN on Xbox Live would be set up in a similar fashion to the ESPN 360 service that’s been widely available from a number of ISPs.  The Times reports that it would be based on a per-subscriber fee and include access to live sporting events and interactive games labeled with the ESPN brand.  Hulu on the PC, Netflix and ESPN on Xbox Live; this tidbit of news gives us yet another reason to cut the cord that is cable.

[Via NY Times; Gizmodo]

2010 Golden Globe winners: Glee, Up, The Hangover, & Avatar come out victorious

This year’s televised Golden Globes award show was terribly boring.  That said, allow me to share my excitement over some of the night’s winners.  (And take a second to glance at my predictions.)

In the television categories, Glee won Best TV Comedy…and that’s about all that interested me.  Fellow freshman comedy Modern Family and others like 30 Rock, The Office, and Entourage missed out on the win.  In my opinion Glee or Modern Family equally deserved to win this category.  Notable losses include House to Mad Men (Best TV Drama); Hugh Laurie to Michael C. Hall (Best Actor in TV Drama); Matthew Morrison and Steve Carell to Alec Baldwin (Best Actor in TV Comedy); Lea Michelle and Tina Fey to Toni Collette (Best Actress in TV Comedy); Michael Emerson, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jeremy Piven to John Lithgow (Best Supporting Actor in TV Series); Jane Lynch to Chloe Sevigny (Best Supporting Actress in TV Series).

In the film categories, UP deservedly won Best Animated Film and Best Score (props to Michael Giacchino); The Hangover surprised everyone and won Best Musical/Comedy against Nine, Julie & Julia, It’s Complicated, and 500 Days of Summer; Christoph Waltz surprised no one and took Best Supporting Actor for his memorable role in Inglourious Basterds; and Robert Downey, Jr. unexpectedly won Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy for his role as Sherlock Holmes.  His acceptance speech was by far the most entertaining.  I was truly blown away by the success of Avatar (or as Arnold Schwarzenegger called it, “Avadart”); it won Best Drama and James Cameron took Best Director (beating out his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) and Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds). The time and money this epic took to create paid off both financially and critically.  Job well done, Cameron.  Notable losses include District 9 and Inglourious Basterds to Up in the Air (Best Screenplay).

Also, we cannot forget about the coveted Cecil B. Demille Award “for lifetime achievement in motion pictures.”  This year it was bestowed upon director Martin Scorsese for his excellent work in films like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Good Fellas, The Departed, and the forthcoming Shutter Island.  For the full list of winners click here.

Lost and Modern Family will take it next year.

Glee’s Matthew Morrison’s upcoming album will have “substance”

Will Shuester–er, Matthew Morrison–is taking it to the next level.  He plans on releasing his own album sometime this year with Mercury Records.  “What I’m creating has yet to be defined yet but I want it to be something very diverse. For me, music is about creating a mood. The best songs for me are songs that I just lose myself in.”  He adds, “I don’t wanna put out a crap CD. I want it to be with substance. I don’t wanna be singing about money or handbags.”  Question is, what will it sound like?  “I’m drawing my inspiration from like Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr.  All those people that kind of did it all: film, TV, Broadway. I’m just so influenced by that music.”  Sounds good to me.  I’m picturing Michael Buble-esque sound with a Matthew Morrison touch that only he can blurt out.  If it sounds anything like we’ve heard from him on Glee–but more mature–I think I might be satisfied.  We’ll have to wait and see.

[Via EW-MusicMix]